The Princess of Asturias Awardswhich take place this October 25 at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo, have announced the municipality that will receive the Award for the Exemplary Town of Asturias 2024. Beyond the awards that recognize prestigious personalities in different fields, since 1990 the Foundation has honored a community that has stood out for its defense of the natural environment, its conservation of heritage or its contribution to economic and social momentum.
In this edition, Sotres has been chosen among the 29 candidates that were presented. It is a small town in the council of Cabrales. Despite its small size, this municipality has stood out to preserve their traditions, their natural environment and their identityas well as for its ability to innovate and promote social cohesion. In this way, it has become a model of sustainability and cultural revitalization in rural Asturias.
This is the Exemplary Town of Asturias 2024
Sotres is the highest town in Asturiaslocated at 1,050 meters above sea level, in the heart of the Picos de Europa Biosphere Reserve. His life is linked to livestock farming, mountain tourism and the production of the well-known Cabrales cheese.
Currently, two local cheese factories continue to produce this product under the Protected Designation of Origin. Besides, one of them has a Cheese Classrooman educational space that attracts numerous people interested in learning about the production and healing process in natural caves.
The history of Sotres has been marked by different events that have happened over the years: the ‘great snowfall’ of 1888, the late access to electricity in 1981 – almost 100 years after its invention – or the closure of its mines in 1978, which caused the emigration of many workers.
Something the jury has valued is the revitalization of its social and cultural life. The Sotres Neighborhood Association, founded in 2006, has grown to have more than two hundred members and has promoted multiple initiatives. Under the motto “The heart of the Picos de Europa”, he has led the organization of the Sotres Cultural Fest and has promoted training activities such as English and yoga classes.
What are the requirements to receive the award?
According to the regulations, this award is granted “to the town, village, population center, landscape space or human group of the Principality that has stood out notably in the defense and conservation of its natural, environmental surroundings, of its historical, cultural or artistic heritage, in initiatives of economic and social promotion or in the realization of community works or other outstanding manifestations of solidarity”.
The prize, worth 40,000 euros, will be presented by the Kings, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta SofÃa, in a ceremony to be held in Sotres. The act will take place after the delivery of the Princess of Asturias Awardswhose objective is “to consolidate the existing links between the Principality of Asturias and the title traditionally held by the heirs of the Crown of Spain.”
